Debo Band, Lady Rizo, and More Set for Joe's Pub This Week

Each week Joe's Pub at The Public presents some of New York City's most eclectic programming ranging from world to classical, pop, singer-songwriter, jazz and more. At the center of Joe's Pub's genre-blind booking is The Public Theater's mission to bring world-class performance to New York City's diverse cultural community.

Bandleader Danny Mekonnen, lead singer Bruck Tesfaye and their nine partners in the Boston-based outfit Debo Band were inspired by eminences of the Golden Age of Ethiopian popular music -Astatke; singers Mahmoud Ahmed, Tilahun Gessesse, Alemayehu Eshete, Bezunesh Bekele. Mekonnen, an ethnomusicologist by training, speaks with awe of the moment he received several hundred MP3s from an elder in Washington, D.C. (that hub of the Ethiopian diaspora). Other Debo members, like electric violinist Jonah Rapino, credit Ethiopiques for making them aware of the sound. The band's new album includes songs (some traditional) that one or another of these icons performed in their time, alongside material from the repertoire of Azmari praise-singers, and Debo originals. Call it Gospel Funk! In truth, the sound of The Relatives is so much more. Formed in 1970 by veteran Dallas Gospel singer Rev. Gean West and his brother Tommie, The Relatives' sound bridges the gap between traditional Gospel, Soul and Psychedelia. In the early 1970's, they recorded three obscure singles and a previously unreleased session-all of which are compiled on the acclaimed 2009 anthology, Don't Let Me Fall. The release of the anthology brought The Relatives back together as a band, planting the seeds for their 2013 Yep Roc release, The Electric Word, which was recorded and produced by Jim Eno of Spoon. The Relatives are spawned from the same fervent Pentecostal tradition that begat Elder Utah Smith. In the 1950's and 60's, the West family were Dallas Gospel royalty and often hosted traveling musicians including a young Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and O.V. Wright.

Gabriel Kahane is not part of a scene. He writes string quartets and musicals and pop songs, and his heart is fully in all of those endeavors. But what unites all of his musical efforts is the desire to communicate honestly and without pretense. On his rich and focused sophomore LP, Where are the Arms, Gabriel has brought together an all-star band including Rob Moose (Bon Iver, Antony and The Johnsons, The National), Casey Foubert (Sufjan Stevens, Richard Swift, Pedro The Lion), and Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright), in support of eleven intricate and literate, yet clear and accessible songs. This is a record to play on repeat, soaking up the details!

Amy Lynn & The Gunshow, a 9-piece band, led by lovebirds Amy & Alex, has a 60's pop and soul sound marked by powerhouse singers and infectious horn licks as especially fertile ground on which to showcase their combined talents. Together and apart they have played all around the world gracing the stage with Duffy, St. Vincent, Lucy Woodward, Yo La Tengo, Spoon, The Radio City Orchestra and many more. Given the Gunshow's standout showmanship and feel-good energy, it's no wonder that their performances at NYC's top venues have met with glowing reviews.

The latest piece in an explosion of new work by Mike Daisey, F*CKING F*CKING F*CKING Ayn Rand is an evening dedicated to that most frustrating and difficult woman in our literary and philosophical canon, Ayn Rand. Reviled by millions for her infantile philosophies and turgid prose, she is simultaneously worshipped by millions more for her ideological purity and dedication to the self at all costs. Torrid rape sex, terrifyingly bad movies, and the underpinnings of the modern American financial system all play a role in how Ayn Rand became the most powerful woman in the American mythos today. Discounted tickets are available, though all who do not pay full price will be required to perform a ritual of public humiliation during the show for being moochers, takers, and part of the 47% of proles who are dragging the rest of us special people down toward the gutter when we could be reaching for the stars.

The incomparable "cabaret star" (NY Magazine) Lady Rizo is back for an unchaperoned evening of song and decadence. You may have seen her here at Joe's Pub with her "glam bottom baring dance troupe the Assettes" (Village Voice), celebrating the billboard top ten in the monthly series Our Hit Parade, or midtown at the gothic Night Hotel co-hosting the weekly transnational lounge Foreign Affairs. But here is your chance to have her all to yourself. Her seamless mix of baudy humor and elegance has been likened to Mae West but its her vocal chops that have garnered recent attention: collaborating with both Yo-Yo Ma & Moby on albums this year, singing selections of the American Songbook in front of the internationally acclaimed 36 -piece orchestra The Knights, and at MOMA for a sold out cabaret for the Kirchner Exhibit. Let her lashes beguile you as she interprets an irresistible mix of popular songs from all eras backed by some of the finest musicians in New York City. Even though she is venturing out solo, if you know Lady Rizo you won't be surprised if a couple special guests pop up.

Brooklyn-by-way-of-Charleston songwriter Frances Cone has a soulful/ indie-pop sound with a voice that "hits somewhere between Neko Case's Americana and the breathy depth of Cat Power" (Nathan Reese, Refinery29). Featured on Vanity Fair's playlist in summer 2012, her debut album drops January 2013.

Toshi Reagon has been described as "a talented, versatile singer, songwriter and musician with a profound ear for sonic Americana--from folk to funk, from blues to rock" by critic/blogger Eva Yaa Asantewaa (InfiniteBody). "She masters each of these genres with vocal strategies that easily spiral and swoop from the expressively sinuous to the hard-charging, a combination of warmth and mischief." Toshi has had the pleasure of working with Lenny Kravitz, Lizz Wright, Ani DiFranco, Carl Hancock Rux, Nona Hendryx, Pete Seeger, Chocolate Genius and many other amazing artists, including her favorite collaborator, her mom, Bernice Johnson Reagon. Yaa Asantewaa writes, "Toshi knows the power of song to focus, unite and mobilize people. If you've been lucky enough to be in Toshi's presence, you know you can't walk away from her without feeling better about yourself as a human being. She aims for nothing less."

After a premiere concert with the Malmö Symphonic Orchestra in Sweden and an extended Los Angeles workshop production, JUNK: A Rock Opera will be playing a one-night-only concert at Joe's Pub starring some of Broadway's hottest rockers. Adapted from the epic concept album by Swedish post-punk pop band Brainpool (Christoffer Lundquist, David Birde, Jens Jannson), and featuring new material written with directorShakina Nayfack, this late-night show will introduce New Yorkers to highlights of JUNK's unforgettable score. The show takes place in a near-future urban wasteland run by Junk Incorporated. Anna, a Junk employee, dreams of starting a revolution with her all-girl rock band, the Metro Jets. Her ambitions are thwarted when she finds herself torn between her love for the office janitor, Max, who wants to help her escape the drudges of corporate life, and the advances of Ernie, Junk's lecherous CEO and owner of the last nightclub in town. Visceral and irreverent, JUNK sets the stage for a populist glam renaissance that will rock the future of musical theater. Featuring Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange), Tony Vincent (American Idiot, Jesus Christ Superstar), Dan Domenech (Rock of Ages), Alysha Umphress (American Idiot, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Katrina Rose Dideriksen (Pregnancy Pact, Bloodsong of Love), Freddie Kimmel (Superfly), Jeremy Morse (The Trouble with Doug, Bloodsong of Love), Mike Backes (Jersey Boys Las Vegas), Paul Louis Lessard, Frank Viveros, Ashley Rose, Onyie Nwachukwu and more to be announced! Directed by Shakina Nayfack, musical direction by Jeremy Robin Lyons (piano), with Austin Moorhead (guitar), Christopher Bastian (bass), Jeff Roberts (drums), Renia Shukis (volin), and Bjorn Berkhout (cello).

Sierra Noble's journey as a singer-songwriter has proven to be off to a promising start. Inspired by everything from the folk styling's of the great Patty Griffin, to Top 40 hits from the last 6 decades, Sierra picked up the guitar and quickly began honing a unique style and voice of her own. Sierra's shows captivate audiences with compelling mood setting performances creating an atmosphere where stunning instrumentals and hook laden pop songs exist in perfect harmony. Those same performances have brought opportunities such as opening for Paul McCartney, Kid Rock, Bon Jovi, as well as performing in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and for the Queen of England Her songs speak of universal themes of love, longing, and discovery wrapped in infectious melodies and delivered with sincerity and conviction. Sierra Noble is an artist to watch for with her full length album, produced by Russ Titelman to be released in early 2013.

The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret is Philadelphia's balls-to-the-wall drag cabaret hosted by Miss Martha Graham Cracker, who is, arguably, the world's tallest and hairiest drag queen. Hailed as "The Drag Queen King" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, she is backed by a four-piece band and performs new arrangements and mashups of songs by artists ranging from Prince to Aretha Franklin to Motley Crue to Judy Gardland. Martha Graham Cracker is played by Dito van Reigersberg, co-founding co-artistic director of Philadelphia's Obie-winning Pig Iron Theatre Company. Martha was born in the last century in van Reigersberg's East Village kitchen when he was attending the Martha Graham School of Dance.

Brunch is public sanctioned daytime drinking. What could be better then brunch? Listening to Lea DeLaria treat you to standards and selected hits from her 4 WARNER JAZZ CDS while eating and drinking, that's what. It's an elegant, funny and delicious way to spend a Sunday.

Toshi Reagon has been described as "a talented, versatile singer, songwriter and musician with a profound ear for sonic Americana--from folk to funk, from blues to rock" by critic/blogger Eva Yaa Asantewaa (InfiniteBody). "She masters each of these genres with vocal strategies that easily spiral and swoop from the expressively sinuous to the hard-charging, a combination of warmth and mischief." Toshi has had the pleasure of working with Lenny Kravitz, Lizz Wright, Ani DiFranco, Carl Hancock Rux, Nona Hendryx, Pete Seeger, Chocolate Genius and many other amazing artists, including her favorite collaborator, her mom, Bernice Johnson Reagon. Yaa Asantewaa writes, "Toshi knows the power of song to focus, unite and mobilize people. If you've been lucky enough to be in Toshi's presence, you know you can't walk away from her without feeling better about yourself as a human being. She aims for nothing less."

Joe's Pubis one of New York City's most celebrated venues for emerging and legendary performing artists. Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub debuted in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting new artists while providing established artists with a safe, intimate space to develop new work. Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home. Open seven days a week, dinner and drink service is available during every performance. www.joespub.com

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe's Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Public's wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. www.publictheater.org